--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comedy is a reflection. We create…" description: "\"Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no styles, no standards. We're reflections. It's a distorted mirror in the fun house. We watch societ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/alan-king-11429_ability_comedy-is-a-reflection-we-create-nothing_2814030.png" --- # Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no… ![“Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no styles, no standards. We're reflections. It's a distorted mirror in the fun house. We watch society. As society behaves, then we have the ability to make fun of it.” quote by Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/alan-king-11429_ability_comedy-is-a-reflection-we-create-nothing_2814030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/alan-king-11429_ability_comedy-is-a-reflection-we-create-nothing_2814030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/alan-king-11429_ability_comedy-is-a-reflection-we-create-nothing_2814030.png) > “Comedy is a reflection. We create nothing. We set no styles, no standards. We're reflections. It's a distorted mirror in the fun house. We watch society. As society behaves, then we have the ability to make fun of it.” [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy mirrors society, exaggerating its flaws for humor and critique. **In simple terms:** Comedy reflects and distorts society. Key Takeaway Use humor to critique social norms. Themes comedy reflection societal critique humor Mood witty critical Type satirical observational When to use this quote - Political satire - cultural analysis - media criticism - public speaking Key Concepts Social commentary media studies performance art Questions to Reflect On - What societal absurdities need satire? - How does humor change perception? A Different Perspective Humor can be misinterpreted or offensive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Behave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behave/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-reflection-3540669/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-fun-818994/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Society Behaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-behaves-3540670/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [I believe that good television should be challenging and frustrating and maddening and thrilling. If you just want to see people who look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-believe-that-good-television-should-be-challenging-and-frustrating/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The world around us is nothing more and nothing less than a mirror of what we have become from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/the-world-around-us-is-nothing-more-and-nothing-less-than-a-mirror-of/) [Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/) > [The good thing about not being drop-dead gorgeous is that as time passes, I don't have much to worry about. I have friends who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/the-good-thing-about-not-being-drop-dead-gorgeous-is-that-as-time/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“The humans lack good mirrors. It's so hard for anyone to show us how we look, and so hard for us to show them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-humans-lack-good-mirrors-it-s-so-hard-for-anyone-to-show-us-how/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/peel-your-own-image-from-the-mirror-sit-feast-on-your-life/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [Hmmm! regarding the mirrors I will say that never trust a single mirror tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-regarding-the-mirrors-i-will-say-that-never-trust-a-single/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [Look in the mirror and tell yourself how wonderful you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/look-in-the-mirror-and-tell-yourself-how-wonderful-you-are/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Look in the mirror, and laugh at yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-glassman/look-in-the-mirror-and-laugh-at-yourself/) [Bernie Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-glassman/) > [You have to self-reflect. If you forget who you actually are, then what's the use of even looking in the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/you-have-to-self-reflect-if-you-forget-who-you-actually-are-then-what/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/smile-in-the-mirror-do-that-every-morning-and-you-ll-start-to-see-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [But if a mirror ever makes you sad you should know that it does not know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/but-if-a-mirror-ever-makes-you-sad-you-should-know-that-it-does-not/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [I turned back to the mirror, seeing that there were no lines on it. It was empty. "What happened to my mirror?" I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-turned-back-to-the-mirror-seeing-that-there-were-no-lines-on-it-it/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) > [Mirror, mirror, here I stand. Who is the fairest in the land?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mirror-mirror-here-i-stand-who-is-the-fairest-in-the-land/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Alan King > [My mother's sister was killed in a trolley car accident, so I was raised as one of eight with my sister and six male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/my-mother-s-sister-was-killed-in-a-trolley-car-accident-so-i-was/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [The ability to absorb a book and make someone else's words and story your own was exactly was I was doing on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/the-ability-to-absorb-a-book-and-make-someone-else-s-words-and-story/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [I learned to cook in self-defense. My wife doesn't know what a kitchen is. In the first month of our marriage, she broiled lamb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/i-learned-to-cook-in-self-defense-my-wife-doesn-t-know-what-a-kitchen/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [Modesty is not one of my virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/modesty-is-not-one-of-my-virtues/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [My father was a dreamer - my hero. He was a smart, tough guy from Poland, a cutter of lady's handbags, an old socialist-unionist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/my-father-was-a-dreamer-my-hero-he-was-a-smart-tough-guy-from-poland/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [My brother is the youngest member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. And I wouldn't let him cut my nails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/my-brother-is-the-youngest-member-of-the-college-of-physicians-and/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [And humor has always been a weapon. You want to get even on somebody? You want to attack somebody? Make fun of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/and-humor-has-always-been-a-weapon-you-want-to-get-even-on-somebody/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [You do live longer with bran, but you spend the last fifteen years on the toilet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/you-do-live-longer-with-bran-but-you-spend-the-last-fifteen-years-on/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [There's a charm, there's a rhythm, there's a soul to Jewish humor. When I first saw Richard Pryor perform, I told him, 'You're doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/there-s-a-charm-there-s-a-rhythm-there-s-a-soul-to-jewish-humor-when/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [Age, style, where you come from, where you were born, it's different every time, which, to me, is refreshing because it says that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/age-style-where-you-come-from-where-you-were-born-it-s-different/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [Everything my mother made had to cook for 80 hours, and when she made matzoh balls she didn't know fluffy. Everything sank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/everything-my-mother-made-had-to-cook-for-80-hours-and-when-she-made/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [There's nobody to believe in anymore, nobody to trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/there-s-nobody-to-believe-in-anymore-nobody-to-trust/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [Comedy is an amazing calling. Once you get that first laugh, it's hard to turn away. Then, of course, you're hooked and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/comedy-is-an-amazing-calling-once-you-get-that-first-laugh-it-s-hard/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [Museums are good things, places to look and absorb and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/museums-are-good-things-places-to-look-and-absorb-and-learn/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) > [It's not easy being a father, but I've been allowed a comeback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-king/it-s-not-easy-being-a-father-but-i-ve-been-allowed-a-comeback/) [Alan King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) [Explore all 60 Alan King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-king/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comedy is a reflection. 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